Archive for » September 12th, 2017«

Once upon a time, only white wine accompanied fish, red wine with meat, and mixing gold and silver in jewelry design was taboo. All that has changed. I broke the rules in my recent kitchen renovation; see what you think.

The hottest metal finish around for home interiors at the moment is copper. Copper is a warm, happy and welcoming metal, but it should be used as an accent – too much is overpowering. There are several copper finishes, including a clean and unblemished finish like the look of rose gold, or more orange coloured with a greyish patina.

I was very excited about pairing copper handles with the soft tones of my painted cabinets, which are Pavillion Grey by Farrow and Ball. They looked stunning. But what about the fridge and the sink? And oh yes, also the stove. Most are in stainless steel. When you start adding up the different appliances and fixtures in a kitchen that are metal, there are several. So, do you try to match them? There are copper sinks on the market that are a feature in themselves. Here I wanted the handles and the inside of the lights to offer a glimpse of glamor, and felt a copper sink or taps would be too overwhelming.

I contacted my friends at Kohler, who produce some of the most practical and attractive sinks on the market. I am going to spend an inordinate amount of time at my sink, so I might as well have one that is easy on the eye, practical, and fits with my kitchen décor. Kohler suggested their handcrafted Vault stainless sink, engineered with sound absorption technology. It features tightly angled corners to maximize basin space, and a lowered divider for freedom of movement between basins.

The chic lines of the undermount sink blend beautifully with the Neolith countertop. Neolith is the newest and most exciting material we have seen in a very long time for countertops, flooring, and walls. It is a super durable surface composed of all-natural materials; available in large slabs that are light weight and bendable, which make for versatile applications and installations. Neolith offers several finishes and a wide range of colours that originate from the pigmentation of the raw materials that make up each slab.

The BTC Spun Reflector pendant shades are anthracite grey with a polished copper interior. The stainless sink balances perfectly with the copper cabinet handles and the copper interior of the hanging lights. I also dressed up the kitchen with some copper containers. Youíll find a selection of copper-finish accessories at good kitchen and home stores. (The stove and fridge are stainless.)

Yes, today all the rules are more relaxed – fish with red wine, go for it; white and yellow gold interwoven, or a gold necklace woven with silver, perfect; a judicious mixture of metals in your home, lovely. Life is so much more varied and interesting when you mix it up a little.

Dear Debbie;

Our kitchen is bright with windows and a skylight. We are thinking of changing the paint colour of the white kitchen cabinets. What would you suggest? Thanks,

Debra

Dear Debra;

Your all-white kitchen is a very contemporary look, but could be a little cold. Time to be brave. Switching to a colour for the cabinets would ramp up the mood. Experiment first by painting a few large pieces of Bristol board and pinning them up over the cabinets to get the effect. Why not try a warm shade of gray or blue? Or even a pale pink. Bold shots of red and sunny yellow are showing up in modern kitchens today.

Debbie Travis’ House to Home column is produced by Debbie Travis and Barbara Dingle. Please email your questions to house2home@debbietravis.com. You can follow Debbie on Twitter, and visit Debbie’s new website

Cuisinart is a trusted brand when it comes to cookware. And while I probably would never pay $465 for a bunch of pots and pans, I can certainly see how a 12-piece set from Cuisinart is worth that much. But a deal that offers me 72 percent off makes me WAY more likely to buy it.

Normally $465, this cookware set is 72 percent off today (Photo via Amazon)

This set comes with a 1-quart saucepan with glass lid, a 2-quart sauceplan with glass lid, a 3-quart sauté pan with handle helper and glass lid, a 6-quart stockpot with glass lid, a 10-inch open skillet, an 8-inch open skillet, and a 4-quart dutch oven with glass lid.

The chef from the movie ‘Chef’ might have paid too much for his cookware (YouTube Screenshot/Jon Favreau)

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Cuisinart is a trusted brand when it comes to cookware. And while I probably would never pay $465 for a bunch of pots and pans, I can certainly see how a 12-piece set from Cuisinart is worth that much. But a deal that offers me 72 percent off makes me WAY more likely to buy it.

Normally $465, this cookware set is 72 percent off today (Photo via Amazon)

This set comes with a 1-quart saucepan with glass lid, a 2-quart sauceplan with glass lid, a 3-quart sauté pan with handle helper and glass lid, a 6-quart stockpot with glass lid, a 10-inch open skillet, an 8-inch open skillet, and a 4-quart dutch oven with glass lid.

The chef from the movie ‘Chef’ might have paid too much for his cookware (YouTube Screenshot/Jon Favreau)

Have a suggestion for a cool product or great deal that you think Daily Caller readers need to know about? Email the Daily Dealer at [email protected].

The Daily Caller is devoted to showing you things that you’ll like or find interesting. We have partnerships with affiliates, so The Daily Caller may get a small share of the revenue from any purchase.

“The Disposable Dinnerware Sales market report includes a comprehensive analysis of the present state of the market. The report starts with the basic Disposable Dinnerware Sales industry overview and then goes into each and every detail.”

Description

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Every franchise starts somewhere. Before McDonald’s took over the world in the ruthless hands of Ray Kroc, it was a small burger outfit operated by Maurice and Richard McDonald in San Bernadino, California. The first Starbucks location is now a certified Seattle tourist destination. Even ubiquitous Milwaukee area kingpins like Colectivo, Cousins Subs, and Culver’s have strong and winding roots that can all ultimately be traced back to one flagship store. It’s virtually impossible to predict which restaurant, roaster, or otherwise will one day be adopted into regional, national, or even international consciousness. However, some business seem ready to answer the demands of the hungry masses, should those cries ever come.

In a Menomonee Falls strip mall just off the highway, Grate Modern Mac Cheese (N92W16125 Falls Parkway, Suite 104, Menomonee Falls; 262-953-2540) already seems prepared to answer the call from consumers, despite opening its first location (and only to date) on August 29. That latest brand under the vast umbrella of the Roaring Fork Restaurant Group—which owns every Qdoba in Wisconsin—aspires to put its “own twist on the ultimate comfort food” with unique takes on macaroni and cheese, using quality ingredients from Wisconsin businesses. With a proven business model and a specific theme that’s tethered to an American favorite, Grate seems destined to grow. Well, assuming the food is any good.

The space: The Roaring Fork influence is immediately felt upon entering the glistening corner eatery that shares a plaza with a Firehouse Subs, Supercuts, T-Mobile, and a nail spa. That strip mall itself is situated in a parking lot of an interstate-adjacent Ross Dress For Less and near a Costco. Like Qdoba, the spacious, open concept restaurant is rife with stylish tables, booths, and stools. Also akin to its big brother, Grate relies on counter service. After ordering at one of the two registers, a large assembly line of employees—again, like Qdoba—puts together orders in skillets, which are then shoved into a wood fire oven to be baked to perfection. It’s far from fancy (even though a Lenny Kravtiz playing over the speakers suggested otherwise!), but a warm and casual interior, as well as its heavy cuisine that’s conducive for dining in, encourage people to stay and eat.

Milwaukee Record‘s food: Grate isn’t misleading customers. Outside of two salads, some beverages, and a pair of desserts, mac and cheese is the rule of the land. While it’s unlikely that an entire family or group of friends would all simultaneously have a hankering for some mac, there’s a wide breadth of elaborate toppings to help differentiate it from typical mac and cheese. Outside of the classic mac, Grate has 10 offerings that range from Buffalo Chicken to Bacon Cheeseburger to Pizza to BBQ, and even a bratwurst-infused Wisconsin mac. Most small options are $7.50, and large orders run $9.50. Yeah, that seems a tad steep for noodles, but the portion size actually seems to align with the price quite well.

We learned this by way of our large order of Nacho mac ($9.50). Within 10 minutes, a brimming skillet of carbs was delivered to our table. The oh-so-vaguely southwest-inspired dish was reminiscent of stadium nachos, except with noodles in place of most of the tortilla chips. The crispy top layer of noodles was capped with a huge dollop of sour cream, some pickled jalapeno medallions, a heap of mild salsa (incorrectly dubbed “pico de gallo”), and chunks of beef. Unfortunately, the beef seemed to be a re-purposed burger patty from the Bacon Cheeseburger, instead of being seasoned to represent taco meat. The cold sour cream and salsa seemed to work against the piping hot macaroni along with the gooey mozzarella and cheddar. Also, the lack of nacho cheese was a notable absence from the dish bearing its name. While it was a more down-the-middle representation than we were expecting, it didn’t stop us from mowing through the majority of the homey, rich mess of mushy noodles and fix-ins.

Though our appetite was more than satisfied by that point, we picked some bites from our small to-go order of Chicken Bacon Jalapeno Ranch ($7.50). We found this to be much better than the Nacho, as the gentle spice of breaded jalapeno pieces mixed with the savory hunks of Patrick Cudahy bacon and ranch dressing, and the cheesy goodness of Sturgeon Bay-sourced cheese. Frankly, the cheese coverage was a little lacking and the creaminess left something to be desired, but our second dish was an improvement. At the very least, it illustrated the versatility in store for us if we ever returned.

The verdict: Only time will tell if Grate will catch on in Menomonee Falls and spur local expansion. The pieces are in place, and in time, the food may catch up. As we wait to see whether Grate expectations will be fully realized, it’s good to know there’s a fast, affordable, and inviting place in the suburbs to get a different version of a trusted comfort food before heading to Costco.

Designed by Gabriele Centazzo for Valcucine, the Artematica kitchen is easily customizable with water-, heat- and steam-resistant laminates for shutters and inlaid glass doors. The design of the units follows the highest safety standards by incorporating rounded corners and edges. The metal-and-glass counter features a mounted light whose source is inside a carcass, creating a strong visual impact.

Marc Newson

“My favourite memory of my kitchen is breakfast with my kids when they were younger, and seeing their artwork stuck on the units”

Photo Courtesy: Neville Sukhia

A representation of his aesthetic: smooth lines, rounded corners and superior materials—the spacious kitchen in Marc Newson’s London home is characterized by an open-plan space with artworks created by his young daughters. The cabinetry, which is covered in a celadon-green shade, conceals the refrigerator and various kitchen appliances.

Photo: Gonzalo Machado, Production: Bettina Dubcovsky

How did you approach the design for your kitchen? I already knew, instinctively, that I wanted to use marble for the worktops and that the shape of the central island would function well in the kitchen. I knew that I wanted celadon-green lacquered surfaces for the units; it’s a material that I have used successfully before in previous projects.

How did you choose the accessories for your kitchen? Fairly easily, in that I used a hob and oven that I designed for Smeg, the dish doctor I designed for Magis and the kettle and toaster I designed for Sunbeam. The cutlery, the china and the glasses are also my own designs for Alessi, Noritake and Iittala, respectively. Other accessories were chosen simply because they work extremely well, especially the juicer by Green Star.

‘Mikado’ tiles from the Opus Collection by Lithos Design, at Keha Casa

‘Legrabox’ box system by Blum, at Häfele

‘Poetic Garden’ teapot, Arttd’inox

Diesel Open Workshop’ kitchen by Diesel Living, Scavolini

‘Amalfi Full’ range by Del Tongo, at Grandeur

What is the one kitchen tool you can’t do without? A favourite, ridiculously sharp Japanese knife.

What can you whip up better than anyone else? Vegemite soldiers, and I make a mean Thai curry.

Ashiesh Shah

“If you are looking to add a little art to your kitchen, it’s best to stick to pieces that won’t damage easily. Opt for some framed photographs or a sculpture that’s easy to clean.”

The open kitchen in Ashiesh Shah’s Mumbai home was designed as an interactive space overlooking the living room. Featuring a marble-top table, brass-clad cabinets and hidden drawers, the space is Shah’s take on an overarching American-style space.

The Mumbai-based architect’s brass-clad kitchen is a standout space—bright and inviting with an unmissable touch of glamour.

Photo Courtesy: Montse Garriga

How would you describe your kitchen? Since I have an open-plan kitchen, and dining and living spaces, it was very much a part of the design process. The aesthetic of the living room is carried forward in the kitchen.

What’s your favourite memory in this kitchen? Too many to count! The great thing about having an open-plan space is that it really makes entertaining more interactive. I have friends over all the time and I find that people are constantly around the kitchen area, helping themselves to whatever they might need. It makes for a great informal entertainment area and as the host, I never feel like I need to run into the kitchen every few minutes to keep track of what’s going on.

‘Atira’ drawer system, Hettich

‘Balinese Valencia’ limestone tile, Keramos

‘ZXS 367’ faucet by Zucchetti, at Intersekt

‘CVA 6401’ built-in coffee machine, Miele

‘Minta Touch’ faucet, Grohe

‘AV470’ kitchen, Häcker

‘Marino’ sink, Hindware

‘SBSbs 7263’ refrigerator in black steel, Liebherr

‘Siphon’ Coffee Brewer, KitchenAid

‘400/200 series’ espresso machine by Gaggenau, at PlÜsch living

‘Triangulo’ tiles, Bharat Floorings

What is the one kitchen tool you can’t do without? The oven—I have a serious sweet tooth!

What can you whip up better than anyone else? I do a really fantastic avocado salad.

Martyn Lawrence Bullard

Originally built in 1924, the house combines the romance of old Hollywood with an authentic Spanish Mediterranean flavour.

Photography by Tim Street-Porter

How did you approach the design for your kitchen? It took about three months. It has been designed to resemble a 1920s Mediterranean-style kitchen, complete with a La Cornue stove and built-in appliances like dishwashers, refrigerator drawers and ovens. The floor is made of reclaimed 19th-century Italian tiles and the walls are plastered in a rough manner to capture the appearance of age and atmosphere.

What’s your favourite memory in this kitchen? It was when the famous chef Wolfgang Puck cooked dinner for us on one of my birthdays.

‘Moroccan Bone Inlay’ side table, Moonriver

‘Tournant’ faucet, Kohler

‘Artematica’ kitchen by Gabriele Centazzo, Valcucine

‘Zenius3’ espresso machine, Nespresso

‘Portland’ cement finish kitchen, NOLTE

‘P70 Nerissima’ cooking suite, Officine Gullo

‘Work’s Concept’ kitchen by Eggersmann at Plüsch living

‘Plaza Perla’ tile, kajaria

‘Piemont’ cutlery, Villeroy Boch

‘Classic’ kitchen by SieMatic, at living art interiors

Calce Nero’ Stonelam Laminam stone, Stonex

‘Argilla Latte’ tile, Nitco

What is the one kitchen tool you can’t do without? It has got to be my Nespresso coffee maker, the first thing I reach for in the morning!

What can you whip up better than anyone else? I’m really not the best cook, but I do make an amazing spaghetti bolognaise. My Italian mother’s recipe is now a time-trusted favourite of the family and my friends.

CGCERAMICS, a company started by Christie Goodfellow, creates wheel-thrown pottery with an appreciation for design, materials and process. The functional pottery, such as dinnerware and planters, can be found regionally at top-rated restaurants and well-curated shops.

“I think I realized I was passionate about making pottery because I kept finding it,” says Goodfellow, who turned her passion of pottery into her full-time profession just four years ago. “I was drawn to the process and connected with the idea of making something that is just itself.”Goodfellow, a Pittsburgh native, moved to Cincinnati when she was working in retail merchandising a few years ago. Serendipitously, her apartment was just five minutes from a large ceramics studio where she began spending evenings and weekends honing her craft of wheel-throwing. In 2009, she began selling her work online and at local art fairs and shops.

She makes custom tableware for restaurants and individuals, as well as garden and home décor for direct orders and wholesale. Each piece is crafted with mid-range or high-fire stoneware that has a warm, earthy palette. The straightforward designs and warm tactile feel of the wares complement an artful, farm-to-table approach, just as the ware’s meditative attention to detail and minimal finishes appeal to those who fill their spaces intentionally and highly regard the beauty and purpose of simplicity.

CGCERAMICS is one of seven finalists in the fourth annual ArtWorks “Big Pitch” presented by U.S. Bank, where they will compete for a $15,000 Judge’s Choice Award and a $5,000 Audience Choice Award during a live five-minute pitch on Sept. 28 at Memorial Hall.

During the Big Pitch process, CGCERAMICS will be mentored by Kaylyn Gast, a U.S. Bank Small Business Specialist and Steve Doehler, an industrial designer.

CGCERAMICS has been working out of a small backyard studio for the past five years and is looking to move into a larger space to support increased production. The $20,000 prize from the Big Pitch would enable CGCERAMICS to increase production capacity through the purchase of equipment, hiring employees and moving into a larger space. With the ability to create additional inventory, CGCERAMICS could take on more accounts and begin to create a more sustainable workflow.

“CGCERAMICS has grown organically over the past several years, and last year’s sales impressively doubled those in 2015,” says Goodfellow. “With 25 percent of inquiries discouraged with long lead times, now is the time for us to expand.”

Untold Content, LLC, created by Katie Trauth Taylor, is a national writing consultancy that helps innovative organizations share their insights and establish their thought leadership through clear, thought-provoking content.

It serves government agencies, healthcare systems, scientific and technical companies, academic and research institutions and other innovative organizations that seek to establish fan bases to follow their thought leadership. Its team of expert writing consultants collaborates together with clients to think strategically and creatively about content development.

Two years ago, Trauth Taylor left her tenure-track teaching position at Miami University to focus on building Untold. Today, the Untold team creates everything from white papers and research reports to website content and book manuscripts. The range of its professional writing capabilities allows it to reach many disciplines and industries.

“This time last year, Untold was a one-woman company serving one major client,” Trauth Taylor says. “Now, we are a five-woman company serving more than 20 clients. We have proof-of-concept for our idea of a writing consultancy. There’s a definite need for writing consultants in Cincinnati and beyond.”Her vision is to establish the company as a well-loved brand of storytellers here in Cincinnati and to work with clients at the national level. Five years from now, Taylor believes Untold will be a 10-15 member company serving clients within key centers of innovation across the United States and locally.

The emerging company is one of seven finalists in the fourth annual ArtWorks “Big Pitch” presented by U.S. Bank, where they will compete for a $15,000 Judge’s Choice Award and a $5,000 Audience Choice Award during a live five-minute pitch on Sept. 28 at Memorial Hall.

During the Big Pitch process, Untold will be mentored by Robert Sparks, a U.S. Bank Small Business Specialist and Jim Stahly of Score.

The real opportunity for Untold is to tell great stories of the work being done by experts and innovators.

“It’s simply incredible to see the number of scientific and tech startups forming here in Cincinnati,” Trauth Taylor says. “So many wise, hardworking innovators are popping up in our community, and yet many of them aren’t taking the time to pause, look up from their work and tell the world about it. My strong belief is that there are endless good stories that need telling. That’s what Untold is here to do.”

Winning the Big Pitch would allow Untold to invest in a local “home” office space and to start a focused marketing campaign to inform the Greater Cincinnati business and nonprofit communities of its creative, strategic approach to organizational storytelling.

“We need an energetic, collaborative space to call home,” says Trauth Taylor. “Underwriting on WVXU, pushing a brand video on social media and hosting brand storytelling meetups in our new space will all help us inspire more innovation within and beyond Cincinnati.”

ArtWorks Big Pitch presented by U.S. Bank returns for a fourth year at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 28, at Memorial Hall. Seven of Greater Cincinnati’s up-and-coming creative entrepreneurs will each deliver a five-minute pitch in front of a panel of judges and a live audience to compete for a $15,000 Judge’s Choice Award and a $5,000 Audience Choice Award.